Distance runner says he has turned down the possibility to compete for Nice Britain on the European Working Championships
Ben Connor, who competed on the Tokyo Olympics, has rejected the possibility to signify Nice Britain at subsequent week’s European Working Championships in Leuven, Belgium (April 11-13).
The Brit was picked by UK Athletics to race within the half-marathon however declined his choice after the governing physique requested athletes for a charge of as much as £1100 to cowl issues like journey, lodging, meals, equipment and employees.
Connor, on his Instagram, said that “England Athletics had provided to subsidise their athletes”, with UK Athletics including that the charge “was more likely to be beneath £500”.
Nonetheless, the 32-year-old, who’s seventh on the UK all-time half-marathon checklist with 60:55, stated that the nationwide governing physique was nonetheless asking for a “important athlete contribution” and that he felt “it’s mistaken”.
Ben Connor (James Rhodes)
“After a extremely robust few years and having beforehand represented Nice Britain at each stage throughout street, observe and cross-country – beginning as a junior proper by way of to the Olympics in Tokyo – I used to be wanting ahead to pulling on one other GB vest,” Connor stated.
“Sadly I’ve declined my choice for the European Working Championships – I’m wholesome and again in full coaching publish Seville [Marathon] and have a couple of races within the diary beginning this weekend in Eire, however I needed to present readability as to why I’ve declined choice…
“UK Athletics are asking for a big athlete contribution, which up till a couple of days in the past was an unknown quantity and though England Athletics have provided to subsidise this for his or her athletes, to which I’m certain many are grateful for, I really feel it’s mistaken.
“Representing your nation is a privilege and in athletics, it’s earned by way of a qualifying course of, which while not all the time good, provides everybody the identical probabilities to achieve choice.
Ben Connor (Dan Vernon)
“Representing Nice Britain shouldn’t come all the way down to who can or can not afford to pay for it. Coming from a working class background I don’t just like the potential priority being set the place folks, particularly junior athletes of the longer term don’t have the identical growth or competitors alternatives due to funds.
“Working (particularly street) is the best mass participation sport within the UK and we’re asking our greatest to pay to signify this nation on a global stage. I want there was extra transparency and honesty concerning the state of our governing our bodies funds and about how our sport is being managed for this to be the place.”
UK Athletics state that “athletes had to supply an expression of curiosity for choice” and that “we’d not search to pick anybody that wasn’t conscious of this requirement [maximum athlete contribution]”.
Ben Connor (David Hewitson)
The nationwide governing physique added that as extra competitions get added to the calendar it’s “inconceivable” to fund all groups, pointing to the truth that “numerous different Olympic sports activities have related fashions whereby competitors outdoors the key senior championships is self-funded”.
The choice coverage for the European Working Championships was printed on July 22 after which amended on December 11, 2024.
UK Athletics can also be asking athletes to contribute as much as £200 to compete at this summer time’s European Beneath-23 Championships in Bergen, Norway.
The British Milers Membership introduced on March 10 that they’ll “cowl the price of self-contribution” for athletes that had been “a paid up member of the BMC who achieved choice by way of a qualifying time at a BMC assembly”.
Learn the total choice coverage right here
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